I've been arguing that the model of membership in the church is outdated because Gen X and younger don't find their identity through membership in institutions. (Yes, I know that's a generalization, but it also generally holds true). Church membership is often measured through giving money and attendance in such a minimal and practically useless amount (come once a year and give a dollar). Magazine subscriptions have more rigorous membership systems than churches. And often it allows those that want to cause problems to show up at the annual meeting to come and vote even though they haven't really been a part of the community. Membership should be more about discipleship, which is what you are really talking about. It's about lived faith that transforms people. It's about God encountering us and transforming us. It doesn't make us perfect of course, but it does change us and it shows. What's the point of faith if it isn't going to change us? We would be wasting our time. Belonging to a church should be about that - being transformed and changed. Being changed individually, in community, in relationships, being changed so that we can go out and serve to make an impact in our community to show where God is already at work and changing things. To be changed in the world - which is about bringing about the fullness of the kingdom of God, and we get to participate in that. That's what belonging to the church is about for me.